Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!bellcore!rutgers!ucsd!ames!dftsrv!amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov!xrtnt From: xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov (Nigel Tzeng) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: "Demos" and piracy Message-ID: <2741@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> Date: 11 Jul 90 03:11:06 GMT References: Sender: news@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov Reply-To: xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov Organization: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD, USA Lines: 58 News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4 In article , tadguy@abcfd01.larc.nasa.gov (Tad Guy) writes... ^In article mofo@bucsf.bu.edu (jason greene) writes: ^> Most often these demos [Red Sector, Champs, etc.] are made by ^> somewhat skilled European programmers who want games for themselves, ^> so they "contribute" these "demos" to the various pirate groups to ^> use. IE, the programmers of the demos are most often pirates ^> themselves. ^> ... ^> I think that supporting these demos is akin to supporting the pirates ^> themselves, and should be stopped. ^ ^Let me make sure I understand you correctly. You're suggesting that ^because these people pirate software, then their legitimate products ^shouldn't be seen? I think his point is (correct me if I'm wrong) that a lot of the screen hacks are advertising for pirate groups or individual crackers and displaying these demos is in poor taste. This is no reason for five different people to jump on his case considering that he is taking the anti-pirate mindset to its logical extreme. If the mere act of being a pirate is so heinious then it is justifiable to shun all products produced by them since presumably it supports stealing food from the mouth of babes...especially since they are "unrepentant". On the other hand I would guess that just as many of the screen hacks are by "real" enthusiasts and determining which is which may be difficult. ^ ^Hmm... Analogy: Because someone's ideology (for example, Jew, ^Christian, whatever) doesn't agree with yours, then that's persons ^contributions (say, music, or artwork) shouldn't be seen. ^ ^Nope. I don't like it. Sounds like censorship to me. Nah, I don't like it either and you're right...it is censorship if enforced as such. But as you state below no one is "obligated" to ftp them or display them. I don't think that Jason is doing the amiga community a disservice for pointing out the origin of the demos and does raise a valid point. Perhaps people would avoid "pirate" demos as they avoid tuna from companies that kill dolphins. ^ ^ ...tad ^ ^PS: Notice that you're still free not to obtain these demos, and ^ more importantly, you're free to continue to encourage others to ^ do likewise. Be careful that you don't cut your own throat, though... 'Nuff said - why do I get into these things? :-) NT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- // | Nigel Tzeng - STX Inc - NASA/GSFC COBE Project \X/ | xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov | Amiga | Standard Disclaimer Applies: The opinions expressed are my own.